Students and faculty push for gender-neutral restrooms
By NATALIE POPOVSKI
Posted: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 at 11:21 pmhttp://oaklandpostonline.com/2012/10/02/campus/students-and-faculty-push-for-gender-neutral-restrooms/A group of Oakland University students and faculty are advocating for more gender-neutral bathrooms on campus.
According to Blake Bonkowski, president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at OU, people who are transgender, have a family with young children or are disabled are inconvenienced or unsafe when the only restrooms nearby are gendered.
"There are already a few (gender-neutral restrooms) in some of the buildings, but we are mostly concerned right now with placing one in the lower level of the OC by the bookstore, which already has room for a gender neutral bathroom, and having more in housing," Rebecca Reichenbach, vice president of the GSA, said.
There are currently six on campus.
"Walking into a designated-gender bathroom as a person who is transgender, genderqueer, agender or gender nonconforming, can not only be uncomfortable but could also be potentially unsafe if the person is confronted by someone who is not an ally, who wishes harm upon the student," Reichenbach said.
"My goal as president of the GSA has always been to make sure that all students are as safe, comfortable and prosperous as possible during their time at OU," Bonkowski said. "This desire continues through this project."
